Method of compressing gases



L. BLOCK.

'METHOD OF COMPRESSING GASES- I APPI ICATION'FILED MAR, 13. I918.

Patented Aug.-15, 1.922.v

' for this purpose.

Louis BLOCK, or swimmer-saw voiax'.

METHOD OF c olvr'riinssfncciisns.

T 0 all whom it may concerns Be it known that I, Louis BLOCK, a c1t1- Z811 of the United States, residing at Mamaroneck, in the county of Nestchester and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Method of Compressing Gases, of which the following is-a specifi cation.

The invention relates tothe liquefaction of gases by compression, and is intendedmore particularly for the treatment of chlorine gas in a reciprocating compressor.

The object of the invention primar ly is to remove the moisture or vapor of water from the gas by eXposing'it in the compressor tothe absorbent action of sulphuric ac d.

A further object is to supply the acid without lessening the charge of gas received in the compressor cylinder, andv to ntroduce the acid at a pressure above that of the gas enteringthe compressor.

Another important object is to prevent the entrance of moisture from the atmosphere to the compressor through the. stuffing-box and to arrest such moisture carried by the piston-rod. 1

Another important object is to supply the.

acid tothe compressor, at a relatively low temperature, thereby aiding in absorbing the heat of compression developed 1n the gas.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show an apparatus designed for successfully carrying out the improved. method. Figure 1 is aside vlew'of a single acting compressor and its connected parts, adapted Figure 2 is a corresponding front view with certainpart's omitted. 1

Figure 3 is a di'ametrical section through the upper or delivery end of the compressor, on a larger'scale, showing one of the delivery valves in elevation.

Figure 4 is a similar section through the lower' end of the'compressor cylinder, the stuffing-box, and piston.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the intake valveand its immediately connected parts.

. Figure 6 is'a vertical diametrical section through the separating tank, with certain portions shown in elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

"A is the cylinder. of a single acting compressor, A the upper head, A the lower specification of IiettersPatent. Au'g Application filed March 13-, 1918. Serial No. 222,066.

head, and

number. of upwardly valve E held to its seat bathed in the acid, is

is the intakecon'nec-tion, A the delivery com nection, and B thepiston having a' pistonrod B connected to the crosshead C and r ciprocatedthrough a connectin'gerod C by a crank C on] the shaft C I i the stuflingQboX. thereon. A

mounted in suitable bearings in the framefof thecompress'or and driven by a pulley C. r At the upper end ofthe cylinder isa drum 1) seated on an annular valve seat D below the dellvery orifice A such seat by a set-screw D extending through and held normally to the upper head and impinging upon the upper face of a breaking-plate D mounted on a tubular support D which rests upon the opening valves D mounted in casings D only'one'of which'is shown. I i I The piston B is chambered 'as shown and carries an upwardly opening valve B the gravity of which is nearly balanced by fa sl ght supporting spring B carried by the piston beneath the valve. Below the *p'iston Bis 'the inlet connection A to which is o ned a caslng E containing alight intake E2 by ay p'r s E and to the intake connection below the valve E 15 secured a chamber F containing a conical strainer F and having a emigre to.

oined a pipe, not shown, leading I which is L from the supply of the gas to be treated and compressed. a

G is a separating tank shown as mounted upper face. of the drum. Inthe latter are vertically on the frame of the compressor at the rear; it'is-adapted to contain a supply of sulphuric acid in its lower end, the depth of which maybe read on agauge-glassG In the lower'end of the separatingtank and a coil H of pipe the ends of which extend through the head G of the tank and serve to permit a circulation of cooling water through the coil;

From the delivery connection A 'eiztendsa pipe J, passing downwardly through the headG 'of the tank the normal level of the acid therein, and J and terminating above is 'an outlet pipe secured to the hez'ajd Gr. and

leadingto a suitable reservoir or container,

not shown, for further separating the gas I 1 from the sulphuric acid. I

'At' the bottom of the separatingtank are valves and connections, as at G", throu h which the vitiatedacid in the tank may lie drawn off and a new supply introduced, and

Lis a pipe leading from a low point in the tank, upwardly to the stufling-box A adapted to carry acid to a lantern-gland L surrounding the piston-rod and held in proper relation to the supply orifice from the pipe L by packing, not shown, in the stuffing-box. On the opposite face of the latter is a corresponding orifice through which the acid passes after filling the interior of the lantern-gland, and by a pipe L is led to the interior of the compressor cylinder immedi ately above the lower head N.

M is a cock by which the flow of acid through the pipe L to the lantern-gland and cylinder may be controlled and regulated, and is preferably of the rotatable plug type, as best adapted to resist the action of the acid for long periods.

The apparatus above described operates as follows in carrying; out the improved method :At each upstroke of the piston B the partial vacuum thus produced causes an inflow of gas below the piston, through the strainer F which arrests any particles of matter held mechanically suspended in the, gas, past the intake valve E and fills the cylinder. The succeeding down stroke transfers the charge of through the lightly supported piston valve B to the cylinder above the piston. The next upstroke of the piston draws in a fresh charge and compresses the contained charge .to the liquefying pressure, and forces it through the valves 'D in the drum D, and

pipe J, to the separating tank G where it is discharged. The chlorine gas fills the upper portion of the tank, finally escaping through the pipe J to a reservoir.

It will be noted that the separating tank is under the pressure of the compressed gas which forces the acid in the lower portion thereof in quantities permitted by the pipe L and valve M to the interior of the lantern-gland L and completely incloses the piston-rod in the stuffing-box A in a bath of acid under pressure which effectually prevents any leakage into the stuffing box, and by its affinity for water absorbs any moisture entering the stufling-box or carried thereto by the movements of the piston-rod. From the opposite side of the stuffing-box the pipe L leads the acid to the interior of the cylinder A. and forms a layer-on the lower head A held by the intake valve E .which may fill the space below the piston B. The suction causedby the upstroke of the piston will lift the valve E and draw such acid mingled with the'inrushing gas into the cylinder until at or near the'completion of the upstroke, the valve E again closes. The suction due to the upstroke prevents any escape of acid to the chamber F while the valve E is open.

" At eachtransfer of the gas through the piston on the down-stroke of the lattena small quantity ofiwid is also trawl 33 d and lies in a layer on the upper face of the piston and its valve B and is delivered with the compressed gas through the valves D and pipe J to the separating tank. In this traverse the gas and acid are intimately mingled, with the result that practically all the moisture in the gas is absorbed by the acid.

The acid is cooled in the separating tank G by the circulation of the cooling water through the coil H and is delivered to the stufiing-box and cylinder at a comparatively low temperature, so that in addition to absorbing the water in the gas, it performs the further useful function of aiding in absorbing the heat of compression.

he corrosive action of sulphuric acid is slight when undiluted with water, but increases as water is added, so that it is important to re-charge with pure acid at intervals more or less frequent as conditions may require; this is effected by means of the valves and connections G By mounting the delivery valves D in the drum D, and holdin' the latter to its seat by the breaking-p ate D and setscrew D serious damage to the compressor, due to accidental failure of the valves D to permit the escape of acid and com ressed gas with sufficient rapidity, is avoi ed and the only effect of such condition is to-break the plate D and permit the drum D to lift and relieve the pressure.

I claim 1. The method described of treating gas by circulating sulphuric acid through the gas for absorbing moisture in the gas, con- 'sisting of delivering such acid to a compressor prior to its entrance to the compressing zone, transferring such acid to such zone after the transfer of the charge of gas to such zone, compressing such charge of gas in the presence of such acid, and deliver ing such acid with the compressed gas.

2. The method described of treating gas by circulating sulphuric acid through the gas for absorbing moisture in the gas, consisting of delivering such acid to a compressor prior to its entrance to the compressing zone, sealing the stufling-box of said compressor; transferring such acidto such zone after the transfer of the charge of gas to such zone, compressing such charge of gas in the presence of such acid, and delivering such acid with the compressed gas. i

3. The method described of treating gas by circulating sulphuric acid through the gas for absorbing moisture in the gas, con' sisting of delivering such acid to a compressor prior to its entrance to the compressing :zone, sealing the stufling-box of said compressor with such acid, transferring such acid to suchzone after the transfer of the charge ,of' gas to such zone, compressing such charge of gas in the presence of such acid, and delivering such acid with the compressed gas.

4. The method described of treating gas by circulatin sulphuric acid through the gas for absor ing moisture in the gas, consisting of delivering such acid to a compressor prior to its entrance to the compressing zone, sealing the stufling-box of said compressor with such acid, transferring such acid to such zone after the transfer of the charge of gas to such zone, compressing such chargeof gas in the presence of such acid, and delivering such acld With the compressed gas, cooling suchcompressed gas and acid, separating the latter from such compressed gas, and returning such cooled acid to said stuffing-box and compressor at a pressure greater than that of the gas to be compressed In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature.

LOUIS BLOCK. 

